Session X2: Physical Properties of Partonic Matter

1:30 PM–3:18 PM, Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Hyatt Regency Dallas - Landmark B

Sponsoring Unit: DNP
Chair: Vickie Green, Vanderbilt University

Abstract ID: BAPS.2006.APR.X2.2

Abstract: X2.00002 : Beacons of light--photon emission from hadronic collisions

2:06 PM–2:42 PM

Preview Abstract

Author:

  Stefan Bathe
    (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

Direct photons do not interact strongly with the medium produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions, which makes them an exceptional observable: at intermediate pT they provide information on the early stage of heavy-ion collisions; at high pT they constitute a crucial reference for the medium modification of high-pT hadron production which has been observed. The PHENIX experiment at RHIC has found a significant excess of direct photons above the background from decay photons in Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV at both high and intermediate pT. Furthermore, direct photon production in p+p and d+Au collisions has been measured, allowing a fundamental test of QCD as well as constraining the effects of cold nuclear matter. A systematic study of direct photon production will be presented and put into the context of theoretical models and earlier measurements.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2006.APR.X2.2